If your car uses an automatic transmission, then you have to be thankful that it's got a BMW neutral safety switch. That's because this switch prevents your engine from firing up unless your shift selector is in the neutral or park position. When your car is in the forward or reverse gear, this BMW neutral safety switch is then put in the "open" position, preventing any current from activating the starter solenoid. Generally reliable, the BMW neutral safety switch isn't a component that breaks down easily-unless of course it's misadjusted or heavily-damaged.